The 53rd Hunger Games- Two Words

17. Before The Arena

I sit next to Gladius in the hovercraft. No one is talking, not even Arabella. Hadrian gives me a weak smile, but I see that he’s just as nervous as I am.

That isn’t the face of a killer.

Marina tries to start up a conversation with Hadrian, but he’s not interested. I think she’s trying to take her mind off the Games.

I can’t help but think about what Tule said to me. Did I already have fight? Not the kind that Tule gave me. She’s right about it being indirect too. I’ve never been one to follow rules that didn’t seem reasonable. Tule didn’t mean for it, but arguing against her has given me a little more of a will to keep going.

Gladius and the girl from Five exchange a few words. I don't catch them, but they seem to be a greeting. When I look at the girl's ankle, I see it is still a little swollen. She must have sprained it badly. No wonder she scored so low; receiving only a four after her individual session. Her ankle is red enough to look like it still hurts.

When I glance back over at Arabella, I see her trying to get Hadrian's attention. Even though she's strapped into her seat, she still pulls off provocative without a hitch. Hadrian is busy rubbing his arm. His tracker has just been injected into his arm.

A woman comes round to Gladius, and I bite my lip. Needles aren't bad, not compared to what I'm about to enter, but I still find them sore. She grabs comes to me, and grips my arm tight. I look away when my tracker is injected. The Gamemakers can't afford to make a mistake when the Games are such a big event. Losing a tribute would turn them into the laughing stock of Panem.

All the tributes have their trackers in, and the engines change from a dull hum to a thunderous roar. A calm female voice comes on over hidden speakers, and tells us to stay strapped into our seat at all times. According to her, the journey the arena will take around an hour and a half. They never use the same arena twice; each year is different. The arenas are build in part of Panem no one inhabits, far away from the Capitol and the districts.

My heart ratchets up a few beats. Until last night, the Games seemed far away. Impressing the Gamemakers and the Capitol were priorities. Now I need to survive.

The harsh white lights in the hovercraft die down to a calm blue. Shadows are cast over faces, making them look far more sinister. Even Hadrian looks gravely serious, something I never expected from someone who seemed so easy to be around, flirty and relaxed. Parts of his well-defined face are cast in darkness, and for a moment I totally believe that he's been trying to get me to trust him so it's easier for him to kill me.

But then he does something that takes me back to the first night in the Capitol, back to the Tribute Parade.

He winks.

It's a small gesture, and one that isn't meant to restore confidence in me. I am pulled back to my indecision. Before we enter the arena, I want to know what Hadrian's thinking. The only way to know is to shout across the hovercraft, and then I'll appear stupid. It's not like he'd tell me anyways.

Neither Gladius nor his allies talk. Arabella occasionally says something to one of the other Careers, but doesn't converse with them frequently or loudly. I only see her lips moving; I am unable to make out the words over the drone of the engines. Hadrian looks vaguely irritated when Arabella says something him, which makes me assume that she's passing out last minute advice. That, and it looks like Hadrian is becoming less and less tolerant of Arabella's demand for attention. She must have had a half-million boys chasing after her at home.

It's a different story in the Games.

Another fear is brought to mind; I've always assumed that there will be a selection of weapons at the Cornucopia. I've all but forgotten the year of the Games were there were only clubs for the tributes to bludgeon each other to death. What if there is only one kind of weapon? Most I handle okay, but an axe is really the only one that I feel comfortable with. I've only ever seen a weapon sent into the arena a couple of times. It's only the good-looking, skilled tributes that receive the most expensive gifts. If anyone, Hadrian will be the one to receive the weapon he uses best. The Capitol has already made it clear who their favourites are.